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Mets trade struggling Ike Davis to Pirates

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have traded slumping first baseman Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league pitcher Zack Thornton and a player to be named. The Mets announced the move just

Sept. 15: Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts after being struck out in the sixth inning of their game against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Freeman was thrown out of the game. (Photo: Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)

Sept. 14: Phillies' Jonathan Papelbon argues with umpire Joe West after Papelbon was ejected from the game after making an obscene gesture to the fans while leaving the field. (Photo: Rich Schultz, Getty Images)

Sept 11: Marlins' Anthony DeSlafani yells at home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg after getting ejected for hitting Brewers' Carlos Gomez. He was one of three to get the exit. Marlins manager Mark Redmond and Casey McGehee were also ejected after arguing. (Photo: Mike McGinnis, Getty Images)

Sept. 11: New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon leaves the game after being tossed by umpire John Tumpane, who then tosses manager Terry Collins for arguing the call against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. (Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

Sept. 2: Home plate umpire Tim Timmons watches New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner react to being called out on strikes in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Gardner was ejected for his reaction. (Photo: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports)

Aug. 21: Angels manager Mike Scioscia, is thrown out of the game after Albert Pujlos was ejected during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

July 23: Tampa Bay Rays' Yunel Escobar argues with umpire Dan Bellino after being ejected for disputing a strike-three call in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on July 23, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images)

July 9: Cubs manager Rick Renteria is ejected from the game by third base umpire Andy Fletcher during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. This is Renteria's fifth ejection of the season. (Photo: David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports)

July 8: Giants manager Bruce Bochy argues with home plate umpire Angel Hernandez over a balk called on his pitcher Jean Machi in the bottom of the eighth inning and is ejected. (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)

July 7: Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez is thrown out of a game by umpire Mike Everitt after arguing a reviewed call during the ninth inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

June 22: Rangers manager Ron Washington is thrown out for arguing a play at home plate after it had already been decided by replay during the first inning against the Angels. (Photo: Mark J. Terrill, AP)

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3), gets ejected while arguing with home plate umpire Paul Emmel (50), after Kansas City Royals' pitcher James Shields was called for a balk which scored Chicago White Sox's Adam Eaton during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (Photo: Paul Beaty, AP)

June 12: After being ejected from the game for hitting Braves' Evan Gattis with a pitch, Rockies relief pitcher Nick Masset, front, hands the ball to third base umpire Paul Emmel. (Photo: David Zalubowski, AP)

June 8: Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was ejected after flinging his bat following an inside pitch against the Athletics. A's pitcher Fernando Abad was also tossed. (Photo: Joy R. Absalon, USA TODAY Sports)

June 6: Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura (23) has words for umpire Kerwin Danley (44) after he was ejected from the game in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

May 30: Four members of the Red Sox were ejected during their rivalry with the Rays. Manager John Farrell is tossed in the first inning after David Price hit David Ortiz in the back with a first-pitch fastball in the first inning. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports)

May 30: Filling in for John Farrell, bench coach Torey Lovullo throws his cap while arguing with umpiring crew chief Jeff Kellogg after Mike Carp became the second Red Sox hitter of the game hit by a pitch from David Price, who was not ejected, in the fourth inning. (Photo: Winslow Townson, Getty Images)

May 30: In the sixth inning, Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman is ejected after throwing a pitch behind Evan Longoria. Because of the prior warnings, that made Brian Butterfield an automatic ejection as acting manager. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports)

May 27: Royals manager Ned Yost is held back by umpire Gary Cederstrom as he talks to home plate umpire Kerwin Danley. Yost was tossed in the sixth inning against the Astros. (Photo: Charlie Riedel AP)

May 17: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Scott Kazmir walks off the field after being ejected during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. (Photo: Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports)

May 12: Orioles pitcher Bud Norris is ejected from the game by home plate umpire James Hoye after hitting Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter with a pitch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Photo: Joy R. Absalon, USA TODAY Sports)

May 8: Rays manager Joe Maddon talks with umpire Marty Foster after pitching coach Jim Hickey (not pictured) gets ejected from the game at the end of the top of the first inning. (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

April 24: Astros relief pitcher Paul Clemens, right, walks off the mound after being ejected from the game in the seventh inning for hitting Oakland's Jed Lowrie with a pitch. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

April 20: Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez is ejected for his role in a brawl with the Pirates. Pirates outfielder Travis Snider and Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron were also ejected. (Photo: Gene J. Puskar, AP)

Apr 14: Rangers manager Ron Washington gets thrown out of the game after arguing with home plate umpire Paul Schrieber against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington (Photo: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)

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Young had been out with an injured right quadriceps. He played one inning in the field for the Mets during the opening week and was pulled before he came to bat.

Davis, the son of former big league pitcher Ron Davis, was a promising prospect when he hit 19 homers with 71 RBI while batting .264 as a rookie in 2010. He got off to a strong start the following year, hitting .302 with seven homers and 25 RBI in 36 games, but missed most of the season with an ankle injury.

Still, he seemed primed for a fine career.

Davis' power numbers peaked in 2012 — he was tied for fifth in the NL homer race — even while he hit just .227. But he got off to a second consecutive miserable start last year and was demoted to the minors for nearly a month. He batted .205 with nine home runs and 33 RBI, missing the final month with a side strain.

"Obviously, it's a little weird. I've been with the Mets for a long time. I've got really good friends here," Davis said. "I've had a blast in New York. It's where I made my childhood dreams come true."

As for joining the Pirates a year after they ended a long playoff drought, "in different scenery it will be better," Davis said.

Since no cash was involved, the Mets save $3,117,486 of Davis' $3.5 million salary.

The Pirates didn't bring back first baseman Garrett Jones after the season and went searching for a lefty-hitting complement to Gaby Sanchez. But no major moves developed and the Pirates went into spring training with only prospect Andrew Lambo and non-roster invitee Travis Ishikawa at the position.

Lambo didn't hit much in exhibition play and Ishikawa got off to a quick start during the regular season before dipping. Manager Clint Hurdle has reverted back to playing Sanchez — a player who has drastic right/left splits — against righties.

"Ike's done a really nice job against right-handed pitchers in his career. He's had two big seasons and two injury-plagued seasons and we're betting that our guys can get him back on the right track. We're betting that he was a better fit in this ballpark than he was in what used to be spacious Citi Field," Huntington said.

Young went 8-for-12 with two homers in a three-game rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Young hit 27 homers with 91 RBI and 28 steals for Arizona in 2010. He hasn't been able to duplicate those numbers since then.

The 25-year-old Thornton was 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four relief appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis. He will report to Las Vegas.